Incident involving child with autism in Pampanga mall prompts call for review of business policies

The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) has called for the review of business policies after an eight-year-old person with autism was asked to leave a commercial establishment inside a mall in San Fernando, Pampanga.

In a statement Tuesday, NCDA said the review will be coordinated with the Department of Trade and Industry, relevant regulatory bodies, and the Local Government of San Fernando City.

They will also assess how business policies can be aligned with disability inclusion and reasonable accommodation principles.

NCDA said the child was asked to leave due to the establishment’s “no outside food policy.”

“While businesses have the right to implement operational policies, such policies must never result in discrimination, exclusion, or undue hardship for persons with disabilities—especially children whose medical and developmental conditions require reasonable accommodation,” NCDA said.

“We emphasize that reasonable accommodation is not special treatment. It is a legal obligation and a social responsibility. Inclusion requires flexibility, awareness, and compassion,” it added.

NCDA also urged business entities to engage their frontline staff in systematic disability awareness and sensitivity training, as previous cases concerning accessibility and accommodation were reported. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News